Track sander



July 8, 1941. e. c. CHRISTY TRACK SANDER Filed May 24, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Irzveniar George 6. Clzrzlsty 9 We,

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y 1941. cs. c. CHRISTY 2,243,217

TRACK SANDER Filed May 24. 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 37 Ne m3 Patented July 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRACK SANDER George C. Christy, Chicago,lll. Application May 24, 1940,.Serial ism-337,026

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in track sanders, and more particularly to apparatus for sanding the drive wheels of locomotives to increase traction.

One object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for conveying the sand from the reservoir or sand dome of a locomotive to the rail of the track structure to sand the rail to produce increased traction between the locomotive drive wheels and the rail, wherein the sand is withdrawn from the sand dome by suction and forcibly projected or sprayed onto the rail by the-action of an air jet, and the sand in the dome is kept in agitated and loosened up easy flowing condition by a second air jet directed into the dome.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a simple and efiicient track sanding apparatus wherein the sand is conveyed by the action of air jets syphoning the sand from the dome, so designed that the same is self-cleaning, thus preventing all danger of clogging.

A further object of the invention is to provide a track sanding apparatus comprising a. conveyor pipe line leading from the sand dome to :the drive wheel of a locomotive for conveying the sand to the rail of the track structure and delivering the same at a zone near said drive wheel, wherein is included in said pipe line a fitting provided with air jets for agitating the sand in the sand dome of the locomotive, withdrawing the sand from said dome, and causing the same to flow through the discharge pipe line and wherein said fitting is provided with a Venturi portion to increase the suction and produce, in effect, .a strong syphoning action.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following:

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a locomotive boiler, broken away, showing the usual sand dome and illustrating by improvements in connection therewith. Figure 2 is an enlarged, elevational view, looking from right to left in Figure 1, showing my improved apparatus, the air line leading to the same being shown in cross section, and a portionof the dome-being shown broken. Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the apparatus disclosed in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 4-4 of Figure 3, Figures 5, 6, and 7 are vertical sectional views, corresponding respectivelyto-the -lines --5,:66, and 1-4 of Figure 2. :Figure 8 is a-view similar :to Figure 4 showing another embodiment of the invention.

.In said drawings'lfl indicates a:portion.of a conventional locomotive boiler having the usual sand-dome II which serves asa source of supply or reservoir for ,sand :for track sanding purposes. A portion of the usual pipe line which leads tothe locomotive v.drive wheels .fordeliv- ,ering and spraying .the sandon the rail of the track is indicated "by -:I2. 'As is well known to those skilledin this art, the pipe line .fOI' conveying the sandiextends along the :side of :the locomotive :bo'iler:to a, .po-int adjacent one of the drive wheels .to deliver :the sand onto the rail, cl-oseto said wheel,.the usual practice being to duplicate the .pipe lines at opposite sides of the locomotive to provide sanding facllitiesfor opposite drive wheels. Although the sanding device herein illustrated employs a single line on each side :of the locomotive leading to :the corresponding drive wheel, it will be understood that, if found desirable, several such lines may be employed .on each side of the locomotive leading respectively toidifferent drive wheels to increase'the track .sanding'facilities. Air under pressure is supplied to the sanding device by an air pipe line leading to the cab of the locomotive, a portion of .said pipe line being indicated by 113, it :being understood that the airsupplied 'by said line-is controlled in the usual manner :by suitable valve means located in the cab.

My improved sanding device comprises broadly a fitting 'A in-terposed "between the sand dome ll .of the locomotive and the delivery "pipeline 12 .having a 'Venturi section B and air jets C and D for feeding and agitating the-sand respectively.

The fitting-A-is preferably a casting of tubular form, and :as shown in the drawings may be a elbow, thus providing a horizontally disposed section I?4 and :a downwardly inclined section 1 5. The-open end or-mouth I6 of-the section 15 is internally threaded,-as indicated at H, to receive the threaded-end of the conveyor'or discharge pipe 1-2. As shown in Figures 1 to 7 inclusivathe open end or mouth of-the horizontal section is externally threaded, as indicated at t8, the fitting A being connected to the dome -H by said threaded section 18 beingscrewed into an internally threaded outlet opening l-il at the side of the dome adjacentthe bottom thereof. Adjacent the-bend of thefitting A, the horizontal section thereof ispreferably provided with-an-external"hexagonal flange 2!! adapted to receive a wrench or similar tool for screwing the fitting into the opening IQ of the dome II.

In this connection it is pointed out that the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figure 8 differs from the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive only in that the fitting A is provided with a rectangular securing flange 2i by which it is bolted to the dome II instead of the threaded connection shown in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive.

At the bend in the fitting A, that is, at the junction of the sections I 4 and I5 thereof, the metal of the upper wall is thickened, providing an upstanding enlargement 22 thereon. The enlargement 22 is provided with a top opening 23 and horizontally aligned side openings 2424 for a purpose hereinafter described.

Each of the openings 23 and 24-24 is in the form of a cylindrical bore internally threaded at its mouth. As shown most clearly in Figures 4 and 6, the opening 23 extends to a point below the level of the openings 2424. The opening 23 and one of the openings 24-24 are closed by plugs 252 5, and the remaining opening 24 receives the threaded end of the air pressure pipe I3, said pipe being connected to the enlargement 22 at the right hand side opening 24 and the left hand opening 24 being plugged in the present instance, as shown most clearly in Figures 1, 3, 5, 6, and 8. The horizontal section I4 of the fitting A is of substantially uniform cylindrical interior cross section at the end portion thereof which is connected to the sand dome II, said cylindrical end portion being at the right hand end of the fitting, as seen in Figure 4, and is indicated by 25. At the bend of the fitting A where the interior of the horizontal section I4 thereof communicates with the interior of the downwardly inclined section I5, the opening of the section I4 is contracted to provide the Venturi portion B, the bottom interior wall of the section I5 having a gradually inclined, raised portion 28 and the top interior wall being provided with a rather more abrupt depending thickened portion 29 having a downwardly inclined surface 30. As shown most clearly in Figure 7, the surface of the inclined portion 28 is preferably transversely concave and the downwardly inclined face 30 of the thickened portion 29 is of substantially straight, fiat, transverse contour. The side walls of the contracted opening are coincident with the corresponding walls of the opening 26. The smaller portion of the Venturi opening B is thus of somewhat oval contour, as seen in Figures 5, 6, and '7.

The interior of the downwardly inclined section I5 presents, in effect, a chamber of cylindrical cross section having a back wall 3| which is substantially fiat and forms a part of the enlargement 29, said wall being inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the surface 30 of said enlargement and terminating at the contracted portion of the Venturi opening. To avoid pockets and sharp corners the interior surface portions of the walls of the chamber of the section i4 of the fitting A are rounded where they join the back wall 3I. The top wall of the section I4 of the fitting A is provided with a horizontal channel or bore 32 communicating with the opening 23. The bore 32 extends to the end of the fitting A and is closed at said end by a plug 33.

The jet D is in-the form of an inclined bore opening into the hollow interior of the fitting A, and communicates with the bore 32. The jet D is so positioned that it directs air in a downward and rearward direction. As will be seen upon reference to Figure 4, the jet opening D is located near the mouth end of the section Id of the fitting A so that the air from said jet is directed through the mouth of said section into the sand dome II in a downwardly inclined direction toward the bottom thereof. As shown in Figure 6, horizontal bores 3434 of relatively small diameter lead from the openings 2424 of the enlargement 22 of the fitting A to the opening 23, thereby establishing communication between these openings and permitting the air under pressure to fiow from the pipe I3 into the opening 23. As seen in Figure 6, the pipe line or air line I3 is connected to the enlargement 22 of the fitting A at the right hand side thereof and the opening 24 at the opposite side of said enlargement is plugged. This arrangement of openings at the right and left sides of the enlargement 22 provides for connecting the air line I3 at either side of the fitting A, in communication with the opening 24 at the corresponding side, the opening at the other side being plugged, thus making the fitting right or left as may be found convenient or desirable. I

The jet C is in the form of an inclined bore leading into the hollow chamber of the inclined section I5 of the fitting A and communicating directly with the opening 23 to form a channel for air under pressure. The jet C is thus directed in line with the mouth end of the section I5 of the fitting A.

In the operation of my improved track sander, when it is desired to spread sand on the rails, air under pressure is admitted to the pipe line I3 by the usual control valve, thereby forcing strong jets of air through the bores or jets C and D into the interior of the fitting A, the jet D being directed downwardly and into the sand dome and serving to loosen up the sand therein and keep the same agitated to facilitate feeding, and the jet C being directed to blow down the delivery pipe I2, thus creating strong suction to Withdraw the sand from the dome II and force the same down the pipe I2. The suction produced by the jet C is greatly augmented due to the Venturi formation of the hollow interior of the section I4 of the fitting A, thus producing, in effect, syphoning action to withdraw the sand from the dome I I. In this connection it is pointed out that the sand in being withdrawn from the dome II must fiow upwardly over the inclined raised bottom wall portion 28 to pass into the discharge pipe I2 and that this raised wall in conjunction with the contracted portion of the Venturi opening B forms an effective barrier which prevents flow of sand from the dome to the discharge pipe I2 when the same is not forcibly withdrawn from the dome and syphoned over said inclined wall 28 by the suction produced by the air jet C. Thus, practically all danger of sand being wasted by the flow of the same from the dome through theaction of gravity augmented by jars and vibrations of the locomotive in service is eliminated.

From the preceding description taken in connection with the drawings, it will be evident that I have provided a very simple and efficient sanding device which is reliable and positive in operation and non-clogging, being, in effect, self cleaning, all pockets or corners in which the sand might become trapped being completely avoided.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative, and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1'. In a track sander for a--locomotivehavinga drive wheel and a sand dome or reservoir, the combination with a conveyor pipe line for delivering sand to said wheel, said line having an inlet opening communicating with said dome; of an air jet directed into said pipe line to syphon the sand from said dome; and an air jet inclined downwardly toward the dome communicating with the interior of said pipe line directing the air into said dome through the inlet opening of said pipe line toward the bottom of said dome to agitate the sand therein.

2. In a track sander for a locomotive having a drive wheel and a sand dome or reservoir, the combination with a delivery pipe leading to said wheel; of a fitting having outlet and inlet openings establishing communication respectively with said pipe line and the interior of said dome; an air jet inclined away from said dome directing a stream of air into said pipe line away from said dome, said fitting being provided with a Venturi portion between said jet and the inlet opening to the dome; and a downwardly directed air jet within said fitting between said Venturi portion and the dome inclined toward said dome and directing a stream of air into the interior of said fitting through the inlet opening thereof, into said dome toward the bottom thereof.

3. In a track sander, the combination with a sand reservoir; of a downwardly directed discharge pipe; a connecting fitting between said discharge pipe and dome having a passageway therethrough having outlet and inlet openings communicating respectively with said pipe and the interior of said dome, said passageway being contracted between its ends to provide a Venturi opening; and a pair of air jets directed into the passageway of said fitting, one of said jets being between the Venturi opening and the dome, said jet being directed downwardly and at an angle toward and through said inlet opening toward and into the dome to deliver a stream of air toward the bottom of the dome, the other of said jets being beyond said Venturi opening with respect to said dome and inclined toward said reservoir and directing an air jet away from said Venturi opening to create suction in said passageway to withdraw the sand from the dome.

4. In a track sander, the combination with a reservoir for the sand; of a casing having a passageway therethrough having an inlet opening at one end communicating with the bottom portion of said reservoir, said casing having an outlet opening at the other end; a delivery pipe communioating with said outlet end, the passageway of said casing being contracted between its ends to provide a Venturi section; an air jet directed downwardly into said passageway between the outlet end and the Venturi section of the game, said jet being inclined away from said Venturi section; and an air jet directed into said passageway between the inlet opening and the Venturi section thereof, said last named jet being inclined toward said reservoir and directed in a downward direction away from said Venturi section through the inlet opening of said passageway into said reservoir.

5. In a track sander, thecombination with a reservoir for sand; of a delivery pipe; a fitting connecting said delivery pipe to the reservoir near the bottom of the'latter, said fitting having a passageway therethrough having an inlet opening at one end communicating with the interior of said reservoir, and an outlet opening communicati'ng with said delivery pipe; means for creating suction in said passageway to withdraw sand from said reservoir; and means-for agitating the sand in said reservoir, comprising an air jet inclined downwardly toward saidreservoir and directed in a downward direction into said passageway from the interior of said fitting toward and through the inlet opening thereof toward the bottom of said reservoir.

6. In a track sander, the combination with a reservoir; of a downwardly directed delivery pipe; a casing connecting said pipe to said reservoir, said casing having a passageway therethrough having an inlet opening at one end communicating with the interior of the reservoir and an outlet opening communicating with the delivery pipe; a chamber in the top wall of said casing communicating with a supply of air under pressure; a port leading from said chamber to said passageway, said port being directed toward the outlet opening of said passageway to deliver a jet of air into said delivery pipe; and a second port leading from said chamber to the top portion of said passageway at a point inwardly of said inlet opening, said second port being inclined downwardly toward said reservoir and directed downwardly toward the inlet opening of the passageway to deliver a jet of air outwardly through said inlet opening downwardly toward the bottom of the reservoir.

7. In a track sander, the combination with a reservoir for the sand and a delivery pipe; of a tubular pipe fitting communicating at opposite ends with the interior of the reservoir and the delivery pipe respectively, the end section thereof communicating with the delivery pipe being angularly bent with respect to the end section thereof which communicates with the reservoir; an interior transverse wall at the bend of said fitting providing a restricted opening leading from the second named section to the first named section, said wall being in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said first named section, the merging portions of the surface of said wall and the interior wall of said first named section being rounded to avoid pockets, said second named section being tapered toward said restricted opening to provide a Venturi portion; an air port opening through the surface of said transverse wall for directing a stream of air lengthwise of said first named section toward and into the delivery pipe; and a duct in the wall of said fitting communicating with said port for delivering air thereto under pressure.

8. In a track sander, the combination with a reservoir for sand; of a fitting having a passageway therethrough provided with an inlet opening at one end and an outlet opening at the other end, said inlet opening communicating with the interior of said reservoir near the bottom thereof, said passageway being vertically contracted between its ends; a longitudinal air chamber in the top wall of said fitting having outlet jet openings in front and in back of said contracted portion of the passageway, one of said jet openings being directed away from said contracted portion toward the outlet opening of the passageway and the other of said jet openings being directed away from said contracted portion toward said inlet opening into said reservoir toward the bottom thereof to direct a stream of air through said inlet opening into the reservoir; and a supply pipe for delivering air under pressure communicating with said chamber.

9. In a track sander, the combination with a reservoir for sand; of a casing having a. passageway therethrough having an inlet opening at one end communicating with the interior of said reservoir, and an outlet opening at the other end; a delivery pipe communicating with said outlet opening, the bottom wall of said casing being raised between the ends of said passageway and the top having a depressed portion opposed to said raised bottom wall; an air port in the top wall of said casing directed away from said depressed portion of said top wall toward the outlet opening of said passageway; a second air port in said top Wall of said casing directed into said passageway toward the inlet opening thereof and through the same toward the bottom of said reservoir; and a source of air under pressure communicating with said ports.

GEO. C. CHRISTY. 

